Debutante Kahli Johnson has shone as an inexperienced Matildas line-up claimed a 2-0 win over Argentina.
Johnson headed home a wonderful cross from Charli Grant in the 38th minute in front of 43,020 spectators at Docklands, despite appearing to be offside.
The Matildas doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Kaitlyn Torpey shanked a cross into the top corner.
Charli Grant (left) congratulates Kaitlyn Torpey on her goal. (AAP: James Ross)
Interim coach Tom Sermanni, who has coached the Matildas in 150 matches across three stints, appears likely to finish up after Monday night’s second friendly in Canberra.
Joe Montemurro is widely expected to take on the full-time job after the current international window.
The Matildas’ starting line-up had just 438 combined caps heading into the match, with Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy claiming 293 of those appearances.
Captain Steph Catley, and Arsenal teammates Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross did not play after arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women’s Champions League triumph.
Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold are not in the current squad.
Matildas fans showed their support in Melbourne. (Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
But Australia still had 16 shots (six on target) to six, while Argentina did not register a shot on target until the 80th minute.
Johnson, who had scored three goals in six matches for Calgary Wild in Canada’s Northern Super League, was among the Matildas’ best, impressing with her deft footwork and strength on the ball.
She found the back of the net when Grant burst down the right flank and curled a superb cross to the back post.
Replays showed the attacker was offside but there is no VAR in friendlies.
Torpey scored when she attempted to launch a cross into the area but did not hit it cleanly.
She watched on in disbelief as it nestled in the goal.
AAP
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
Key Events
LIVE: Matildas vs Argentina at Docklands
That’s all from us
That’ll do us for this evening. Thanks for joining us and we’ll catch you Mondy night for the match in the two-game series.
Sleep well soccer fans!
Johnson was surprised to be starting, didn’t dream of scoring
“To be honest, starting with surprising to me, I was just hoping to gain experience and get what I could take out of it (camp),” Kahli Johnson told Ten, who scored on debut.
“Finding that out and having that experience to walk out and hearing all of the fans was surreal. It was nothing I could have imagined.
“I found out last night and in my head I wasn’t thinking about it coming into camp, and the lead-up to the game, the girls are really supportive and were telling me to treat it like any other game and do my best and it was a lot of fun.”
Matildas next game
A well-deserved win for the Matildas and great to see Kahli Johnson scoring on debut, as well as Amy Sayer back at full fitness after her ACL injury, now bring on game two in Canberra on Monday.
– Adam
Before some of you tune out and get ready for bed: Australia play again in two days.
They’ll face Argentina again on Monday, June 2 7:30pm AEST at Stadium Canberra.
Torpey claiming the goal every day of the week
Kaitlyn Torpey said she’ll claim that cross-turned-goal every day of her life. Here’s her crouching thinking she’s shanked it, not realising it found the back of the net.
But more than her moment, it was good to build on the Matildas’ preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup, here in Australia.
“I think it’s good and for the new girls to get some game time and we need a whole squad ready to play in preparation for the Asian Cup. We’re going to need everyone,” Torpey told Ten post-win.
“A credit to all the girls and weworked hard for that win and good todo it in front of the fans.”
New gen Matildas shining bright
Wahoo! Kaitlyn Torpey is also my favourite Matilda!
– Mike
Amy Sayer looked sharp in her come back game from her ACL injury, Kaitlyn Torpey scored while going for a cross, Kahli Johnson got a goal on debut and Charli Grant was prolific on the wing.
New generation Matildas are coming through!
Matildas win!
And that’s full time. What an evening.
Australia defeat Argentina 2-0 in front of a packed house at Docklands.
The goalscorers Kahli Johnson on debut and Kaitlyn Torpey with the accidental cross. It’s a good build towards the 2026 Asian Cup.
Four minutes of additional time
We now have entered the final minutes of this match. Just four extra minutes. Can Australia find another goal?
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 90 mins
Grant has a ping
It was saved but the crowd got on their feet in anticipation all the same.
Grant has had a fantastic night. She has worked tirelessly down the right wing.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 89 mins
Micah clears the ball
Another rare touch for Teagan Micah as the ball travels into the square and she launches it back down the field.
Australia maintain a clean sheet as the last minute of regulation time is entered.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 89 mins
More subs for the Matildas
Tash Prior and Courtney Nevin are coming on as a double sub move, with Kahli Johnson and Jamila Rankin off.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 86 mins
New Matildas on the pitch settling in
The players who’ve entered the park since coming on in the second half are starting to look impatient as they search for another goal.
Amy Sayer and Michelle Heyman are both trying to find a way through that tight Argentina defence.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 86 mins
Fans pack out Docklands
Official attendance tonight: 43,020.
Micah makes her first save
That was a rare touch for Teagan Micah tonight.
Argentina got a shot away at the top of the box, but Micah collected the ball and launched it straight back away.
Australia now back with the possession.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 80 mins
Two more subs for the Matildas
Bryleeh Henry and Leah Davidson have come on, with Clare Wheeler and Kaitlyn Torpey off.
Australia are now settling in with those changes.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 78 mins
Matildas keep peppering
Clare Wheeler and now Michelle Heyman both looked to almost get the third goal for the Matildas tonight.
Wheeler’s shot saved, Heyman’s just a little wide.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 74 mins
A strange goal but we’ll take it
Kaitlyn Torpey was going for a cross, ended up with a goal.
It took her a moment to realise it too, as she crouched first in disappointment before being alerted to the fact… it went in!
AUSTRALIA GOAL: TORPEY
That’s a measured celebration on the pitch as Kaitlyn Torpey is surprised to have found the side of the net. At the 69th minute.
In the crowd, however, it’s going wild.
Torpey was looking for the cross but the ball made it’s way all the way through.
Aus 2-0 Arg, after 69 mins
Sayer and Heyman subbed on
Tom Sermanni has made his first subs for Australia with Amy Sayer and Michelle Heyman are coming on.
Holly McNamara is the first off, followed by Emily van Egmond.
Sayer returns to the Matildas after an ACL in February 2024.
Aus 1-0 Arg, after 68 mins
Chaves getting quite involved
Abigail Chaves once again needed to get on the end of the ball after Holly McNamara shot it towards the net.
The ping followed up Clare Wheeler getting around three Argentina defenders.
Aus 1-0 Arg, after 65 mins
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